Scott fit in a two hour mountain bike ride before 9:30. He said he liked the trail, but next time he is going to have me drop him off at the top since he said most of the time climbing up.

The kids played in the stream while I packed up the tent and got breakfast going.

Brooke made boats out of wood and… a flip flop.  While Brooke was telling me about her boats Cody came into view and started mushing something up and down with his feet.  I looked down to see the muck he had dug up yesterday.  When I looked at him with a funny expression he looked at me right back with a quizzical expression.  In Cody’s world it is perfectly normal to enjoy squashing muck between your toes. Cody created a dock for Brooke’s boats to bring supplies to.

The fish hatchery was out last stop before we headed out of Spearfish.

This is the Yellowstone Boat that transported fish from the fish hatcheries.  The free D.C. Booth Hatchery also had a replica fish railcar.

Mount Rushmore

We had heard that the Thomas Jefferson ice cream was incredible.  So…another healthy lunch of…ice cream!

Even better while we ate lunch we had a great view.

We went through the visitors’ center and watched the park video. We were just here a few years ago, but it was a summer goal of Brooke’s.

We even went to the sculptor’s studio and listened to the ranger talk that was exactly the same as it was two years ago.

Comachee Campground 5pm – Once again we lucked out.  Scott went around the campground twice looking for a site he liked.  The gentleman who had reserved site 25 that Scott kept going to, couldn’t fit in with his trailer, so once again Scott was able to get the site he liked due to sheer luck.

The kids were in heaven with the white quartz and rocks everywhere.  Then I happened to find mica on a rock at our campsite.  I told the kids how much fun it was to peel apart the layers of mica and then Brooke was on a hunt for mica at every rock in the campground.

Dinner – hot dogs and s’mores over the fire.